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Ballot Explained

U.S. House · November 3, 2026

Who's running in California's 50th congressional district

2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.

Candidates
2
Incumbent
Scott Peters
Parties
Democratic · Republican
State primary
Jun 2

Candidates appear in ballot order. We do not rank them, score them, or recommend one — here is how this is put together, and here is what the office actually does.

2 candidates · ballot order · Scott Peters currently holds this seat

Low confidenceLow confidenceOnly one weak source, dated material, or indirect evidence. Treat specifics with caution.What would raise it: An official filing record and at least one independent report about this candidate would raise this.

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Energy and climate policy, including permitting reform.
  • Support for San Diego's biotechnology and research economy.
  • Federal budget and deficit policy.
  • Veterans and the military presence in San Diego.
  • Housing supply.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • U.S. Representative for San Diego since January 2013; has held the 50th District seat since 2023 and was re-elected in 2024 with 64.3%.
  • San Diego city councilmember and San Diego Unified Port District commissioner before Congress.
  • Took about 46% in the June 2, 2026 primary.

Arguments in favor

  • He turns up for the votes and has represented San Diego since 2013, working the district's biotechnology, defence and coastal economy through his House office.

    GovTrack voting record and Office of Rep. Scott Peters

  • He holds the California Democratic Party's endorsement for the general election.

    California Democratic Party 2026 general election endorsements

Arguments against

  • His donors include AT&T, Sempra Energy, Citigroup, DTE Energy and Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris — corporate money the guide flags as problematic given the industries he legislates on.

    Progressive Voters Guide

What we couldn’t verify

  • No named critic of Peters was found: not from Steve Cohen's campaign, not from the National Republican Congressional Committee, not from a primary opponent, and not from San Diego news coverage. The argument above comes from a voter guide's donor screen rather than from an identified critic.
  • Peters's response to the donor criticism was not established from the sources found.
  • The district's boundaries changed under Proposition 50, approved in November 2025; how that changes his position was not established from the sources found.

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Affordability and the cost of living in San Diego, which he named as the focus of his campaign launch.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • News director of KUSI in San Diego for more than twenty years; roughly fifty years in broadcast journalism.
  • Has not held elected office.
  • Took about 44% in the June 2, 2026 primary, roughly two points behind Peters.

Arguments in favor

We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.

Arguments against

We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.

What we couldn’t verify

  • No published criticism of Cohen by name could be found: not from Scott Peters or his campaign, not from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and not from San Diego news coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
  • His positions and record were not stated in material available.
  • His fundraising totals were not reported in material available.

Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.

California's June 2, 2026 top-two primary sent Democratic incumbent Scott Peters, with about 46%, and Republican Steve Cohen, with about 44%, to the November ballot. The district covers coastal and central San Diego along with Poway and Coronado. Neither candidate is listed with arguments for or against here: no published criticism of either candidate by name from someone opposing them could be found, and setting out a case against one and not the other would tilt the page.

This is one contest on a longer ballot

A California ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.

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Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at California Secretary of State.

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